Results 18,001-18,020 of 20,682 for speaker:Mary Hanafin

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 738 together. The adult education guidance initiative is funded by my Department under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Phase 4 of the initiative is due to commence in September 2005. Applications for funding of pilot projects under phase 4 of the initiative were invited from statutory and voluntary bodies with a capacity to deliver an adult...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. The Act provides a comprehensive framework promoting regular school attendance and tackling the problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. The general functions of the board are to ensure that each child attends a recognised school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: There were 273.31 whole-time equivalent special needs assistants, also known as SNAs, employed in 80 primary schools in County Kildare on my Department's payroll at the end of May 2005. It is not possible to say how many of these will have their contracts renewed for the new school year. Responsibility for the recruitment and employment of SNAs rests with the relevant school authorities. SNAs...

Written Answers — University Post: University Post (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is well aware, the president of the college covered by the Deputy's questions resigned from that position on Friday, 29 April. The matter relates to the employee-employer relationship between the head of the college and that person's employers which, I understand, were subject to legal proceedings. In this regard, it is considered that it is not appropriate for me to make any...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Under DEIS, delivering equality of opportunity in schools, the new action plan for educational inclusion that I launched in May, the recruitment and retention of principals and teaching staff in schools serving disadvantaged communities is given particular focus. In addition, there will be a renewed emphasis on professional development for principals and teaching staff working in such...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I feel that I must be circumspect in making any premature judgment in relation to the recent tragic school bus accident in county Meath before the results of the Garda, Bus Éireann and Health and Safety Authority investigations are available. Clearly the factors which have contributed to this devastating incident must be carefully analysed and examined before we can consider the appropriate...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The school referred to by the Deputy is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme, DAS, and the Giving Children an Even Break, GCEB, programme. Under the disadvantaged areas scheme the school benefits from one additional ex-quota teaching post, additional capitation grants of €38.09 per capita, a refund of the television licence fee and eligibility for 95% building grants for building...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Schools will not lose any previous disadvantaged designation as a result of the introduction of the new general allocation system. Schools whose allocations under the new general allocation scheme are based on an enrolment of 80:1 are those disadvantaged schools that are specifically eligible for additional staffing under the urban dimension of the Giving Children an Even Break scheme. The...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. As the Deputy may be aware my Department has issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their teaching allocation under the new general allocation model for the 2005-06 school year. The letter also includes details of any clustering arrangements that may apply. One of the objectives of the general...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: For the purposes of post-primary education provision, the country is divided into catchment areas, each of which has its own post-primary education centre. Catchment boundaries were determined following consultation with local educational interests and the intention was that certain primary schools would feed exclusively into each centre. My Department provides accommodation to meet the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The pupil in question did not attend the appropriate feeder primary school which would entitle her to a place in the community school to which the Deputy refers. This community school is heavily oversubscribed as a result of a significant number of pupils enrolling from outside its catchment area. The development of this type of situation can impact negatively on those who are entitled, as of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, a new scheme for allocating resource teachers to schools to cater for the needs of children with high incidence special needs and learning support needs, was announced last month. The reason for the new scheme is simple. Children with special needs such as dyslexia or mild learning difficulties are found in almost every school. It makes sense then that every school...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: On foot of a Government decision, the then Minister for Education and Science formally established the State Examinations Commission on 6 March 2003. The commission now has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. This includes the matter raised by the Deputy. I have forwarded your question to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is considering the application in question. A decision will be conveyed to the school as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I can confirm to the Deputy that tenders have been received for works at the school to which he refers. My Department is examining this documentation and a decision will be notified to the school authority as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question received a grant for roof repairs under the 2004 summer works scheme and has been allocated funding for mechanical and electrical works and for structural repairs under the 2005 summer works scheme.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their teaching allocation under the new general allocation model for the 2005-06 school year. The letter also includes details of any clustering arrangements that may apply. My Department is also finalising a circular for schools which will contain detailed information on how the new system will...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. Some 71 special educational needs organisers have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The Deputy will be aware that I decided to terminate the original inquiry and establish a new inquiry with new terms of reference. The officer conducting the new inquiry is proceeding with his work. I have not sought an interim report and I do not propose to do so. I am not in a position at present to provide a specific timescale for presentation of the report. However, I understand that the...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The detailed information in regard to school buses used to serve schools in County Clare is not readily available. However, all vehicles operating under the school transport scheme are required to meet the statutory regulations laid down by the Department of Transport. Where vehicles have more than eight adult seats and are more than one year old, they are required to pass that Department's...